This summer has ended Record-breaking start and one of the biggest travel periods of the season is still upon us: the Fourth of July is just days away.
According to AAA, more than 70 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles during the Independence Day rush. That’s a 5% increase over last year and an 8% increase over 2019.
That will certainly mean airports will be crowded, even though that has been the norm this summer. Seven of the 10 busiest days ever at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints have come since Memorial Day weekend.
That includes the five busiest days ever at US airports – with the all-time record being on Sunday, June 23.
Expect these crowds throughout your holiday travel. Whether you’re visiting a theme park in Orlando or a popular location in Europe, you’ll likely see packed airport parking lots, crowded security checkpoints, and lots of tourists. schedule at tourist attractions.
However, there are also many reasons to be optimistic about this summer vacation.
Unlike 2022 and 2023, it It’s a lot easier to find a bargain on airline tickets and there are plenty of opportunities to score great mileage redemptions when you use it.
Plus, the crises plaguing the air travel industry in 2022 are largely behind the airlines, with cancellation rates much better than this time two years ago.
Here’s what to know if you’re still booking your Fourth of July vacation or have already started turning your attention to packing.
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What is the worst day to travel on the 4th of July?
Unlike Memorial Day, which always falls on the same day of the week, predicting the busiest travel day on the Fourth of July is a bit more complicated.
Last year, the holiday fell on Tuesday and the Friday before the 4th (June 30) was considered the busiest day during the peak period. A whopping 2.8 million passengers passed through TSA checkpoints that day. At the time, it was a single-day record, but it has since been broken seven times – including twice in the past week alone.
This year, the 4th of July falls on a Thursday.
Looking at travel forecasts, I’m reminded a bit of the pattern we typically see around Thanksgiving, which, of course, always falls on a Thursday itself.
A busy weekend before the holidays
It looks like there will be a large number of visitors soon starting their travels, possibly turning the week into a getaway.
The world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), expects this Friday, June 28, to be one of the busiest days during the travel rush. Airport leaders shared Monday that 367,000 passengers were expected to pass through ATL that day.
For its part, United Airlines predicts Saturday, June 29, will be one of its busiest days in terms of volume.
Overall, the airline is expected to have its busiest July 4 ever, with plans to carry more than 5 million passengers from June 28 to July 8 — an increase of 7 % compared to last year.
The final peak is expected on July 3
Like Thanksgiving, the Wednesday right before the holiday is also time for a significant last-minute push.
Airlines had the most scheduled seats on July 3, according to a report by ticket booking app Hopper.
More people are expected to return on Sunday, Monday after the holiday
Hopper, along with United and Atlanta airport leaders, anticipate large crowds returning from the holidays on Sunday, July 7 and Monday, July 8.
To complete our Thanksgiving analogy, keep in mind this fact: The Sunday after Türkiye Day is typically the busiest airport day of the entire travel rush. We could see the same pattern play out next week after the Fourth of July.
How common are flight delays or cancellations?
For those worried about another air travel crisis, rest assured: the summer is off to a relatively strong start – at least so far.
Since Memorial Day weekend, US airlines have canceled a total of 1.4% of flights, according to data from FlightAware.
This is a far cry from the 2.9% of flights that have been canceled by this time in 2022.
However, the cancellation rate is slightly higher than this time last summer, when U.S. airlines canceled just 0.9% of flights, according to FlightAware.
Delay
As for delays, US airlines saw just under a quarter of flights delayed this summer, at 24.2%, FlightAware said.
This number increases slightly compared to both 2022 and 2023.
As the Federal Aviation Administration continues to address the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers, weather is often the most complicating factor.
Summer thunderstorms – especially in heavily traveled corridors like the Northeast, mid-Atlantic or Florida – can cause ongoing disruptions across the country. This is why you may experience flight delays due to weather, even when the sky is clear outside.
That being said, initial results this summer are generally quite encouraging.
However, just in case, read on your rights as a passenger Before you travel. Also, remember to book your trip with the included credit card trip insurance; this can offset additional costs for hotel nights, meals and ground transportation in the event of disruption.
Will air ticket prices decrease?
Perhaps the best news for travelers this summer is that flight deals and redemption opportunities are much more available.
While the holiday season can cause ticket prices to rise compared to the rest of the summer for many itineraries, Hopper found average domestic airfares for the holiday season are down about 18% year-over-year last.
Hoping to score a flight to Europe? Hopper predicts that ticket prices will drop about 37%.
As is often the case with major holidays, your best bet may be to depart on the holiday itself and return a little later than the crowds – perhaps on the Tuesday or Wednesday after the holiday. Take breaks, if your schedule allows.
Drive on the 4th of July
As usual, the majority of holiday travelers will be driving.
According to traffic data and insights company INRIX, the afternoons of Wednesday, July 3, and Sunday, July 7, will be the most congested nationwide.
Good news: Current gas prices are at $3.44/gallon of regular gasoline. They’re down from about $3.60 a month ago and about $3.57 a year ago.
Done with your 4th of July holiday trip? Don’t forget to use your credit card Earn bonus rewards for gas.
July 4, 2024 travel tips
Here are some steps you should take if you’re planning to travel this Fourth of July.
Use Google Flights to comparison shop
Search for fares on multiple airlines at once with Google Flights. In a recent significant change, the website is now also Displays Southwest Airlines ticket prices — the fourth largest carrier in the United States
Once you find the itinerary you like using the search engine, you can go and book directly with the airline.
Hotel reservations are subject to cancellation
Booking a hotel room that you can cancel without penalty is often the best way to save on the modest price you’d get by paying in advance.
However, keeping your booking flexible is an especially good idea if you’re traveling to a major U.S. city. Hopper says hotel prices in major cities like New York and Las Vegas have recently been trending down as check-in dates approach.
In that case, your best option is to book a standard room. (In other words, don’t pay up front). That way, if the price drops later, you can cancel and rebook at a lower price.
Same story with points
Since many hotel chains now use flexible award pricing, which can fluctuate based on cash price, you should apply the same strategy if you book with points. Most loyalty programs will send your points back if you cancel your reward period. You can then rebook at a lower redemption rate if you find a lower points price after booking.
Book airport parking online
Save money, time and stress by doing those airports Book parking in advanceinstead of searching for a spot and paying full price on the day.
Know your programs: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, MPC, MyTSA
Global immigration and TSA pre-inspection are your best friends when the airport is packed. If you’re not a member of either program, you still have options to help make your trip smoother.
Download the MyTSA app to track wait times at the security checkpoint you’re about to visit.
If you’re returning from a trip abroad and don’t have Global Entry, you can still shorten the longest lines by submitting your information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for free Mobile passport control application.
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